Module 8Cause and Effect Paragraphs

To discuss the reasons why something occursTo discuss the results of an event, feeling or action

What is the Purpose?

To understand a situationTo solve a problemTo predict an outcomeTo entertainTo persuade

Why do we write these types of paragraphs?

1. Decide if the cause or the effects will be the focus of the paragraph.

2. Create a topic sentence that focuses on central event, feeling or action.

3. Is there a link between the causes or effects? Use that link as the controlling idea (ex. negative effects, positive outcomes, happy reasons.)

Achieving Unity

To increase coherence:

1. Limit the number of causes or effects. 2. Decide if there is a chain reaction or individual causes/ effects.

3. Use transitional words that focus the purpose of the paragraph.

4. Use support sentences to identify the causes or effects.

Enhancing Coherence

The topic sentence of the paragraph clearly states that some effect or result come from some cause.

Consider the following paragraph in which the topic sentence announces that headaches occur because of three causes.

OrganizationEffect to Cause Pattern

Headaches

Headaches can have several causes.  One obvious cause is

stress. People have hectic lives and frequently have multiple stressors

everyday, like work, family and money. Another reason for headaches

in some people has to do with diet. Some get headaches because they

are dependent on caffeine.  Other people may be allergic to salt, or

they may have low blood sugar.  The environment can also cause this

uncomfortable condition. Allergens such as household chemicals

including polishes, waxes, bug killers, and paint can lead to headaches.

Lowering stress, controlling your diet and avoiding allergens can help

avoid headaches.

Sample Paragraph(Effect to Cause

Pattern)

Headaches

Simple Outline

Topic Sentence(Effect)

Headaches can have several causes

Cause one Stress

Cause two Diet

Cause three Environment

Concluding Sentence

Lowering stress, controlling your diet and avoiding allergens can help avoid headaches.

The topic sentence of the paragraph states the main idea in such a way that some cause produces some effects.

Look at the following paragraph in which the topic sentence indicates the cause first, then the discussion of the paragraph concerns the effects resulting from that cause.

OrganizationCause to Effect Pattern

Headaches

Recurring headaches can have several disruptive effects on a

person's life.  Severe headaches are more than temporary

inconveniences.  In many cases, these headaches make a person

nauseous to the point that he or she must go to bed.  Sleep is often

interrupted because of the pain.  This worsens the physical and

emotional state of the sufferer.  For those who try to maintain a normal

lifestyle, drugs are often relied on to get through the day.  Such drugs,

of course, can have other negative side effects.  Productivity on a job

can certainly be reduced, even to the point of regular absences.  Finally,

perhaps the most distressing aspect of all this is the seemingly

unpredictable occurrence of these headaches.  The interruption to a

person's family life is enormous: cancelling plans in the last minute and

straining relationships with friends and family.  It is no wonder that

many of these people feel discouraged and even depressed.

Sample Paragraph(Cause to Effect Pattern)

Headaches

Simple Outline

Topic Sentence (Cause)

Recurring headaches can have several disruptive effects on a person's life. 

Effect 1 Make a person nauseous

Effect 2 Sleep is often interrupted because of pain.

Effect 3 Productivity on a job can be reduced.

Effect 4 Interruption to a person’s family life.

Concluding sentence

It is no wonder that many of these people feel discouraged and even depressed.

Useful Vocabulary

Cause Effect

ForBecause SinceDue to

So But For this reason As a result Consequently OtherwiseTherefore Thus

So and because can be used to join two sentences together.So: tells us the effect of a situation. Because: tells us why something happens.

Example: It was raining. I took an umbrella. It was raining, so I took an umbrella. I took an umbrella because it was raining.

So and Because